Supreme Court Orders Probe into Alleged Contempt by Officials in Somnath Demolition Case
Supreme Court Warns of Jail for Officials if Bulldozer Demolitions Near Somnath Violate Orders
Image Source : INDIA TV
In a significant development concerning the bulldozer action near Somnath Temple, the Supreme Court of India held a hearing on Friday regarding the contempt petition filed by the Patni Muslim Jamaat. The court expressed its discontent and warned that if the earlier orders were violated, it would restore the demolished structures and hold the responsible officials accountable, potentially sending them to jail.
The petitioners allege that despite a Supreme Court stay order on demolition actions, several centuries-old mosques, tombs, and other properties were unlawfully demolished in Gir Somnath, Gujarat. The court has issued notices to the District Magistrate of Somnath and other involved officials, demanding their response. It further mentioned that if the bulldozer actions were found to be illegal, the state government would be ordered to reconstruct the demolished properties. However, the petitioner’s request to maintain the status quo was dismissed, and the next hearing has been scheduled for October 16, 2024.
The Supreme Court reiterated that while there is no ban on removing illegal encroachments, the interim stay on the bulldozer actions would continue to be enforced. The court emphasized that its orders should not be interpreted as supporting illegal encroachments.
